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Qantas knocks back pilot union demands

written by australianaviation.com.au | May 19, 2011
Qantas could be facing strike action from its pilots.

Qantas has rejected a fresh job security request from the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), amid ongoing pilot concerns about the airline’s willingness to move jobs offshore and threats of renewed strike action.

“In case you were in any remaining doubt, the company regards your claim currently entitled Operation and Extension of Employment Contract, which you colloquially refer to as your job security claim, as damaging to the interests of Qantas as a threat to the real, long-term job security of 35,000 employees in the Qantas Group,” Qantas chief pilot Captain Peter Wilson said in a response to the union claims, as reported by The Australian.

Qantas has maintained that the AIPA’s push for equal wages and conditions for overseas-based pilots flying Qantas-branded aircraft would cripple the airline, which is already running at a significant loss on its international flights. Wilson also warned of widespread job losses to Qantas’s domestic and international operations, with the airline potentially forced to pull out of trans-Tasman routes altogether if AIPA’s demands were met.

Though AIPA had originally given Qantas until today to meet its demands, after issuing them on May 12, the standoff now means that AIPA will move forward with plans to ballot its members to take protected industrial action.

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Comments (4)

  • pez

    says:

    Typical union BS. Don’t they realise that with no Qantas comes no job security?

  • Dave

    says:

    Typical Qantas BS. Don’t they realise that with no workforce comes no Qantas!!

  • pez

    says:

    @Dave // Chicken or the egg??

  • A Mark Cohen

    says:

    Mr Wilson as a born and bred Proud Australian
    Your losing Money
    Close Qantas down Sack all Staff
    When ready re employ at lower wages
    There is very few companies with staff loyalty today
    Unions are bullies while Gillard struggles to hold office she is the laughing stock of the world
    Shakspeare “Tamming of The Shrew” needs to apply
    Gillard out —– Unions Finished
    Australian population are with you

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